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| Reviews Summary for ID-O-Matic |
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Reviews: 11
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Average rating: 5.0/5
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MSRP: $20.00
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Description: The ID-O-Matic is a multipurpose, PIC microcontroller based project that nearly everyone can use. In its most basic form, it's a simple 10-minute timer with audio and visual outputs to remind you when it's time to ID.
But wait, as they say -- there's more! How about a variable delay timer that announces your call sign or any other message, in Morse code at a speed you choose? How about CW keying and PTT outputs so you can attach it to a "fox" transmitter, or an emergency crossband repeater? And how about inputs for squelch or COR to make a repeater IDer that works the way you want it? And how about a serial interface to connect to your shack computer, laptop or terminal? And how about a Morse keyboard mode that sends text from your keyboard in Morse code (new in V2.0!) It's all there. Sorry, no Ginsu knives or fruit peeler included.
The ID-O-Matic can meet a pretty wide range of needs. Out of the box, so to speak, it will light up a green LED until nine minutes have passed. The LED then turns yellow, and at 9 minutes 30 seconds starts blinking yellow/red. At ten minutes the ID-O-Matic beeps at you until you reset it with the pushbutton, then starts over.
Using the built-in RS232 serial interface, connect it to a terminal or a PC with a terminal emulation program (Procomm, Hyperterminal, etc) and you can set your own delay from 1 second to over 9 hours. You can control when the LED turns yellow and when it starts blinking. You can also choose between the default beep, or just type in your call sign or any other mesage up to 64 characters long to hear it in Morse code. When in CW ID mode, ID-O-Matic will send the message, then automatically reset and start timing again.
You can also select repeater mode. In repeater mode two additional inputs can be used to control when ID-O-Matic sends your selected Morse code ID. You can use a squelch, COR, PTT or other signals of your choosing. You can optionally have the ID-O-Matic send a courtesy beep at the end of each transmission.
In Morse keyboard mode, text you type is sent in Morse using the speaker, CW and PTT outputs. Letters A-Z, numbers 0-9, AR, BT, SK and punctuation ( . , / ? @ ) can be sent (yes, even the new @ sign). You can also use the + and - symbols to increase or decrease the code speed in the middle of a message if you want.
Regardless of the mode used, the PTT output is active 100ms before and 100ms after the CW ID, and the CW output can be used to drive a keying transistor for CW transmitters. Speed is variable from 5 to 60 words per minute, and the audio pitch is also variable via the menu.
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More info: http://www.hamgadgets.com
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WZ0O
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 15, 2008 06:38
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Wow what a deal
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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This is the best money I have spent on shack goodies. I sure hope I learn all the things this gem will do before I become a SK.HiHi
How Dale does it for the price is a wonder. It went together in about 30 minutes and then the real fun began. I have messed with it for over 2 weeks and am still finding new things I can do with it.Thanks for a great kit Dale
Brad
WZ0O
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K2JN
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 16, 2008 04:18
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Useful and innovative!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I finished the board some time ago but finally got around to mounting the board, connectors and switches in a plastic box this evening. It's an interesting and inexpensive kit with lots of useful features. The hardest part of the construction was trying to figure out how to layout everything in a case. However, I had lots of fun and enjoyed the feeling of success when it worked the first time I applied power. Mine is configured to work as a simple ID timer with an output port to command a beacon transmitter.
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AF5U
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 28, 2007 13:55
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As good as it comes!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Simply the best bang for the buck. The project is not simply a CW IDer, Beacon, or Repeater ID - it is whatever you could want in the way of this kind of device. You can find smaller devices but they wont have built-in reprogramming on them. This one can be changed when ever you feel the need. I am going to use it as a Auto IDer inside my HF SSB and FM rigs. Not only am I covered by the FCC rule to ID my station at least every 10 minutes, but if my rig is ever stollen, it will identify itself via PTT. That will help on the recovery and/or conviction.
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K9KJM
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 25, 2007 22:27
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Great value!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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A great value. In fact, I would like to see a few more bells and whistles (Like the easy ability to add voice ID) at a higher price.....
I bought one, Easy assembly, But had trouble trying to interface a voice ID module with it.
But then, For 20 bucks, The ID-O-Matic is a great value all by itself. So I wound up just using it as it was intended, CW ID. Works fine.
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KB9MWR
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 25, 2007 20:45
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Simple but powerful
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought the first version of this and the second. I've recommended it to others.
Initially I picked it up to compare it to a simple
controller I built from QST. What I like about the ID-O-Matic about it is an interactive way to set the callsign and other parameters, instead of hard-coded on an EEPROM. It has a serial port connector you you jack in with hyper terminal.
I have one in service as a bare bone repeater controller wired to a pair of Maxtracs. Works great. The other I use for foxhunts and misc.
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N6OA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 7, 2006 11:02
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Best Value in Ham Radio
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Assembly was very easy. Only took less than an hour. Programing was stright foward. Anyone who can read can program this gem. What took me the most time was just playing with all the functions. WoW! you can start out with learning CW (if that's what you need) Then use it for a timer for what ever you may need a timeer for. I am using it to control and ID our club repeater. As you play with this remarkable device, you will think of all manner of things you can do with it.
When you consider that repeater controllers can cost several hundred bucks to well over a thousand dollars, then THIS ITEM is the Best value in ham radio today.
Dale will bend over backwards to assist you in any way he can. YOU JUST CAN'T GO WRONG HERE! I've been working in Ham Radio for over 50 years and just never found a better deal. Thanks Dale!
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K4RCC
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 25, 2006 10:46
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Outstanding
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The kit went together in about 20m. Worked first try, once I got the right cable to connect it. Uses pins 2,3,5 and 7 of straight through serial, or at least v2.6 of the firmware does.
Has several functions I was looking for. Could serve as a bare bone repeater controller. All in all, a real bargain for $20. Dale was quick to ship and answer email. Highly recommended.
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W5GNB
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2006 11:45
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Super Kits!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have the ID-O-Matic and also the PicoKeyer. These little kits are very well done and super simple to assemble. They function perfectly.
It is too bad that the Heathkits didn't perform this well!!
I highly recommend any of these kits!!
THANKS!
Gary - W5GNB
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EB3EHJ
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 31, 2006 14:35
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Good for repeater or vhf ssb beacon.
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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It has been working either for any project, in Spain we used for ssb beacon or for beacon to repeater, for a year that i have one and works well without problems.
Good work Dale
73s Henry EB3EHJ
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KD8AWZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 18, 2005 14:52
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Does it all!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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If you are considering buying either a PicoKeyer or the ID-O-Matic, please read all of this!
I ordered and just received both of these devices, and if they do half of what was advertised, I am sure I will be happy with them – but that isn’t what you need to know. Dale, N0XAS, and customer service is what this is all about.
Before I finally bought the ID-O-Matic and PicoKeyer, I e-mailed Dale around a gazillion times with all kinds of questions, and a request that I was sure Dale would turn down.
I have a medical condition that also limits my dexterity and I can no longer build little kits like this, even as well laid out as Dale’s kits are. I asked Dale if he sold the kits already assembled, or if he knew someone that could do the assembly for me.
I also told Dale that I wanted to power these off of my radio 12-volt power supply, and asked if I could do that. Not only did Dale do the assembly of both kits for me, he rigged up voltage regulator and set it all up for me!
I really don’t think that Dale wants to get into the assembly business, but this is the kind of customer service he provides. He built them the same day I ordered, shipped them out the same day I ordered, and they were in my mailbox a few days later! Oh - did I mention he didn’t charge extra for all this “extra” service?
If you have need of a timer or a memory keyer, there are others you could buy, but if real customer support from the company that you buy from is important to you, there just isn’t any better than HamGadgets and Dale!
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